Roller derby league wraps up season over the weekend

The Bavarian Barbarians clash with the Mountain Town Maulers at the final EKRDL bout of the season in Marysville on Saturday.

The Invermere Killer Rollbots crowned themselves atop the East Kootenay Roller Derby League during the championship bout at the Marysville Arena on Saturday.

The Rollbots beat the Avalanche City Roller Girls out of Fernie 205-119, while Kimberley’s Bavarian Barbarians edged the Cranbrook-based Mountain Town Maulers 206-198.

Pamela Currie, known as Demolition Dolly out on the track, helped the Bavarians squeak out a win against the Maulers, but gave credit to the opposing squad, noting they very nearly pulled it off.

“The game was so close, it was equal level teams,” Currie said. “It was down to the last moment and it really could’ve been anybody’s game. We were lucky enough to take it because the girls in Cranbrook are really talented as well, so it just happened to be our night.”

In a rollicking atmosphere charged by an enthusiastic crowd, the Killer Rollbots and the ACAG—the first and second seed in the league—hit the cement floor to determine the champion.

The ACAG beat the Rollbots in a bout back in June, but it was the Rollbots who earned some revenge to take the title with a 205-119 score.

“I think it was really anybody’s game there, too. Both teams have been really solid throughout the whole season so it was equally matched in a very high performance way,” added Currie.

The EKRDL has ended its official season, but the Barbarians will play one more bout next Saturday as a team fundraiser against a group of girls from the Slocan Valley.

Billed as The Small Town Show Down, the Barbarians hope to have some fun with a new opponent and raise some dollars to cover team expenses for the next EKRDL season.

“We know nothing about the team, we’ve never played them, so it’s really going to be complete strangers coming in,” said Currie. “A completely different mix of derby and just going head-to-head.”

Derby action starts at 7 p.m. in the Marysville Arena.

The championship bout, promoted as Back in Black and Blue, also fundraised roughly $300 for Jenna Homeniuk, a Kimberley teen who is battling cancer.

It is now the roller derby offseason, but the team hopes to keep busy by practicing over the winter until the league begins in February. The team may have a facility scoped out in Cranbrook, but they’re looking for something a little closer to home.

“If we don’t have to drive to Cranbrook, it would benefit us greatly,” Currie said. “We want to improve our team of athletes and if we had a winter space here locally, it would be to our great advantage.

“It’s hard coming back and picking it up again. I mean, you know it, but it still takes a little while for you to work out all those kinks “

Anything from gym space, to retail space and everything in between could work for the team and Currie encourages anyone to phone her at 250-581-0912 for ideas or suggestions.

If anyone is interested in giving derby a shot, Currie and the rest of the Barbarians would love to introduce them to the sport.

“You’re on the track, you’re literally beating people up, you’re pushing them down, you’re getting in their way—you’re not being very nice,” said Currie. “But then, you’re enjoying a drink with them after, you’re telling them how great they did. There’s a lot of camaraderie and it’s a great sport.”